Spooling machine



Sept. 2, 1941. E. J. HUBBARD 2,254,221

SPOOLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill/E17 L' Ur Ebefcl ffzrblaaraf.

Sept, 4 I E. J. HUBBARD 2,254,221

SPOOLING MACHINE Fild'Nom l8, 1940- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 171 517 Air" Sept. 2, 1.941. I A D I 2,254,221

SPOOLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 3 \M I l\ I 6' s ,Elver J Hubbard 7 Patented $ept. 2, 1941 UNETED' STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,254,221 srooLmG meme Eber J. Hubbard, Chicago, Ill. Application November 18, 1940, Serial No. 366,051 7 Claims. (01. 242--25) This invention relates to spooling machines adapted particularly for the spoofing of wire, as for example the spooling of wire after passage thereof through an enameling machine for insulation thereof, and my invention may be considered as an improvement over the spooling machine disclosed in my co-pending'application Serial No 295,168 filed September 16, 1939.

An important object is to provide arrangements by which the length of wire measured from the end of a wire guiding arm to the point of contact of the guided wire with the spool is held to a minimum and which length of wire is held taut at all times so as to insure uniform application and distribution of the wire turns on the spool.

A further important object is to provide improved means for automatically electrically conunder control of a switch actuating lever terminating close to the end of the wire guiding arm and cooperable with the spool flanges for actuation for switch control.

Still another important object is to provide means for automatically operating at the end of two Wire layers to raise the end of the wire guide arm and the switch controlling lever away from the wire on the spool by a distance substantially equal to two .wire diameters so that the proper distance of the ends of the arm and lever from the wire on the spool may be maintained.

Still another object is to provide improved arrangement for adapting the machine to wind with equal efiiciency spools having straight flanges or angled flanges.

In addition to the above enumerated features, my improved machine embodies other important features, and all of these features are included in the structure shown on the drawings, in which drawings:

it for supporting a spool to be wound is journeled in hearings and 52 provided on the side walls of the frame A. At its front end. and outside of the frame the shaft it has a collar i3 securedthereto forming a backing for a spool X to he wound, the end or the shaft being threaded for and the collar i3 the spool is clamped for rotation with the shaft.

For driving the spool shaft, a magnetic slip coupling structure C is provided which is mounted between the side walls of the frame A. Referring to Figure 3, this coupling comprises a cylindrical body l5 depending from the horizontal partition wall it in the frame A, the outer end of the body having a removable cover ll. Within the body or housing [5 is the electromagnetic field frame l8 supported by and secured to the cover H as by means of screws IS, an energizing coil 2!] surrounding the field frame. Within the field frame a drive shaft fl is journaled as by hearing structures 22, the shaft at its outer end being coupled to a suitable electric driving motor M. Secured to the inner end of the drive shaft is a drive disk 23 having projections or poles 26- on its outer side. This pole disk, is rotated by the driving motor and is included in the magnetic field createdby the coil 26. To avoid friction, a

suitable air gap 25. is maintained between the pole disk and the adjacent end of the field frame I8.

At its inner end the coupling body or housing l5 has the extension 26 for housing suitable bearings 21 for the transmission shaft 28 which supports an armature disk 29 adjacent to the poles 26 from which it is separated by a suitable gap $0.. With this arrangement, the armature disk 29 is magnetically rotated for rotation of the shaft 28.

'The motor M is a substantially constant speed motor for substantially constant speed drive of the magnetic driving disk-23, and the magnetic drag on the armature disk tends to keep this disk rotating with the drive disk 23, but, depending upon the load on the transmission shaft 28, the armature disk will not always keep up with the driving disk.

Secured to the outer end of the shaft it is a gear pinion 3E which meshes with the gear at secured to the spool driving shaft id. Thus the spool willbe driven from the driving motor lid through the electromagnetic slip coupling C.

Traverse means, to he described in detail later, guides the wire to the spool and is operated by a traverse shaft connected by a gearing train with the spool shaft is. at its rear end, and outside of the supporting frame A, the spool shaft it? carries a gear pinion at which meshes with an intermediate gear 3% which in turn meshes with a larger gear 35 on the end of a shaft E6 journalled in the bearing 31 on the frame A.

The traverse shaft 38 is journalied in a hearreception of a clamp member is between which ing structure fit on the frame A and is in alignment with the shaft 36 and between these shafts clutch operated reversing gearing R is interposed. This reversing mechanism comprises a beveled gear 40 keyed to the shaft 36 inside of the bearing 31, and a beveled gear 4| keyed to a bushing 42 which is freely rotatable on the traverse shaft 38 inside of the bearing 39. A transmission bevel gear 43 is in mesh with both of the driving gears 40 and 4| and is journalled on a stud 44 extending from the vertical wall 45 forming part of the frame structure A.

The traverse shaft extends at its inner end into the bore 46 in the shaft 36 and the end of the shaft 38 has the keyway 41 for the key 48 in the clutch collar 49 onthe shaft 38 between the gears 40 and 4|. end has clutch teeth 50 for mesh with clutch teeth on the bushing 42, and its other end has clutch teeth 52 for meshing with the clutch teeth 53 on the shaft 36. When, as shown on Figure 3, the clutch collar is in mesh with the bushing 42 secured to gear 4|, the rotation of the gear 40 will be transmitted through the transmission gear 43 to the gear 4| and through the clutch collar 49 to the traverse shaft 38 for rotation of this shaft in one direction. When the clutch collar is released from the gear 4| and meshed with the teeth 53 on the shaft 36, the clutch collar will be directly driven by the shaft 36 for turning of the traverse shaft in the opposite direction.

Solenoid means are provided for controlling the shift of the clutch collar 49. Solenoid structures S and S are mounted on the wall 45 of the frame A, these structures being shown more or less diagrammatically. Each comprises a field frame 54 for a solenoid coil 55. The solenoid cores 56 and 56' are in axial alignment and connected by a rod 51 to which is pivoted the outer end of the clutch lever 56 fulcrumed at 69 and having its inner end 60 engaging in the annular lar channel 6| of the clutch collar 49. With this arrangement when, the solenoid S is energized, the clutch collar will mesh with the gear 40, and when the solenoid S is energized, the clutch collar will mesh with the gear 4|.

The wire guide structure comprises a body 62 having a threaded bore to receive the threaded outer end of the traverse shaft 38. The body 62 supports a housing 63 from the front of which extends the wire guide -arm 64. arm and housing 63 is the switch arm 66 which is fulcrumed'at 66 on the bottom of the housing for lateral swing, the inner end 61 of the lever 65 projecting upwardly into the housing through an opening 68 and secured at its sides to switch structures 69 and In which switch structures are preferably of the quick acting or snap action type known in the trade a micro switches. As shown diagrammatically, each switch has a contact spring blade ll anchored at one end by a terminal [2 for'engagement with another terminal 13, an actuating pin 14 extending to the exterior of the switch to be normally displaced from the switch blade so that the blade may disengage from the terminal 13, and adapted to be shifted in to swing the blade for engagement with the terminal so as to complete a circuit between the terminals 12 and i3. Abutment screws 16 and I6 are-mounted on the housing 63 for the actuating pins 14 of the switches 66 and II respectively. The arrangement is such that when the switch lever 66 is swung a. predetermined dis tance in one direction the actuating pin of one switch will engage with the corresponding abut- Below the guidev This clutch collar at one ment screw and will be shifted inwardly for closure of that switch, while at the other switch the actuating pin will be withdrawn from the abutment screw for opening of the switch. The switches are connected in circuit with the solenoid structures S and S and are operated by angagement of the end of the switch arm 65 with the flanges of a spool with the timing of operation such that, when the wire guided to the spool by the guide arm 64 reaches the end of a winding layer on the spool, the switch lever 65 will have been swung for opening of one switch and closing of the other and the inclusion in circuit of the corresponding solenoid structure for operation of the reversing clutch mechanism for reversal rotation of the traverse shaft and reverse in direction of travel of the guide structure along the traverse shaft.

For Supporting and guiding the wire guide structure as it travels back and forth along the traverse shaft during rotation of the shaft, 9. guide frame 11 of L-shape is provided, this frame receiving the outer end of the bearing 38 for the traverse shaft to be rotatable thereon, the frame guide arm "18 extending horizontally below the outer part of the wire guide structure housing 63 and parallel withthe traverse shaft. As best shown on Figure 2, the arm 18 is received between the shoulder IS on the frame 63 and a detachable guide plate 86 secured to the frame. With this arrangement, when the frame TI is rotated, the wire guide frame is swung vertically for adjustment thereof relative to the spool being wound. For successful spooling, that is accurate and uniform spacing of the winding turns, the length of the wire measured from the end of the wire guiding arm to the point of contact of the wire with the spool should be held to a minimum, and provision must be made for raising the guiding arm as the wire depth on the spool increases so that the length of the wire from the end of the arm to the spool will be held constant as closely as possible and the end of the switch arm will be held clear at all times from engagement with the wire and engagement thereof only with the inner sides of the flanges for swing thereby for switch operation for reversal of the direction of travel of the guiding structure. I have therefore provided eflicient means for automatically adjusting the guide structure for movement of the end of the guide arm from the spool a distance equal to the thickness of two layers after two layers have been deposited. The adjustment is effected by an increment of rotation of the supporting frame ll each time two layers have been deposited on the spool. Rotateble on the bearing 39 forthe traverse shaft 36 behind the supporting frame 11 is a worm gear 8| which is meshed by a worm pinion I! on a shaft 83 extending horizontally below the worm gear 3|, this shaft being journalled in suitable bearings 84 provided on the frame structure A. Secured to the outer end of this shaft is aratchet wheel 65, and receiving the outer end of the shaft, to swing thereon, is the upwardly extending lever 66 on which a pawl 61 is pivoted for engagement with the top of the ratchet wheel 66. Extending outwardly from the upper end of the pawl lever 86 is a wall or wing 66 which is apertured to receive the threaded end I! on the core 56 for the solenoid structure 8. This threaded end receives an abutment nut 66, the wing 68 of the lever being interposed between this abutment nut and the outer end of the core 66. Referring .to Figure 1, when the solenoid guide arm can mission gear 34 is joumalled on a stud 9| extending from a bar 95 which is mounted one end of the bearing 31 for the shaft 36 to which the clutch gear 40 is secured. The outer end of the bar is engaged by a bolt 96 extending through a slot 91 in the frame A for securing the bar in adjusted position. When it is desired to substitute another pinion 33, the bolt 96 isloosened and the bar 95 is swung upwardly to unmesh adjustably coupling the supporting frame "to h the worm gear. As shown, a set screw 9! extends through the frame 11 for engagement with the worm gear, and the arrangement is such that when the ratchet wheel 85 is turned, the frame 11 will turn with the worm gear and the wire guide structure will be swung with the frame 11 for raising the end of the guide arm 64 a distance equal to the increased depth of wire on the spool caused by two layers of wire'thereon.

The distance that the guide arm must be raised after the application of two wire layers depends of course upon the diameter of the wire being wound. By settingof the abutment nut 90 on the threaded end 89 of the solenoid core 55 the distance of rotation of the ratchet wheel 85 by the pawl for the proper raising distance of the be established. When the solenoid core is shifted outwardly it abuts the wing 88 of the pawl lever for swing of this lever and sliding of the pawl over the ratchet wheel. Upon inward shift of the solenoid core the pawl lever will not be swung back until it-is engaged by the abutment nut 90 and, therefore, by proper setting of the abutment nut the rotation of the ratchet wheel by the pawl may be established for the desired adjustment swing of the wire guide arm at the proper time.

When the. wire guide arm is raised at the end of two layers, the switch arm is likewise raised. When an empty spool is inserted in the machine for winding, the g ide structure is set so that the end of the swi ch lever will be as close as possible to the spool barrel but sufficient clearance is allowed so that the switch lever will never contact the wire. For such setting of the guide structure, the set screw 9| is released and the guide structure swung downwardly. A bracket 92 on the frame structure A'is threaded to' receive an abutment screw 93 for engagement by the supporting frame 11 for the wire guide structure. This screw is set to be abutted by the frame 11 when the guide frame is swung down for setting of the end of the switch lever relative to the empty spool barrel. The set screw 9| is then set to secure the frame 11 to the worm gear 8| forau'tomatic swing of the guide structure after each two layers of winding on the spool. wound, the set screw 9| is released so that the guide frame may be swung upwardly so that the filled spool may be removed. Then when an empty spool is applied the wire guide frame is swung down until the abutment screw. 93 is engaged and then the set screw 91 is tightened and winding of the spool is proceeded with.

When a different size wire is to be wound by the machine, adjustment must be made for the speed of travel of the wire guiding structure by the traverse shaft so that the wire will we wound with the desired number of turns per nch on the spool. For such an adjustment a dfierent size drive pinion is substituted for the driving pinion 33 on the end of the spool shaft. To permit such substitution, the intermediate trans- After a spool has been fully' the intermediate gear 34 from the pinion, so that the pinion can be withdrawn and another sized pinion applied. The bar. 95 is then-swung down to bring the gear 34 into mesh with the new pinion and the bolt 96 is then tightened.

Referring to Figure 1, the circuit arrangement is shown for the solenoids and the guide arm switches. The solenoids could be designed for operation by commercial circuits or, as shown,

by current from a battery 98.. A switch 99 is provided for shutting off the current if desired. A conductor. I00 extends from the switch for connection with the terminals 13 of the switches 69 and 19. A conductor IM extends from the switch blade terminal I2 for the switch I0 and connects with one terminal of the coil for the solenoid S, the other terminal of the coil being connected by conductor I02 with the other terminal of the battery. A, conductor I03 extends from the switch blade terminal 12 of the switch 69 to one terminal of the coil for the solenoid S whose other terminal is connected by conductor I02 with the current source or battery 98.

Where the wire W to be wound is enamel insulated, the wire can be fed directly from the insulating machine to the winding machine, the wire traveling through the enameling machine at a fixed rate to which the winding machine must cater. The end of the guide arm 64 is formed to provide a U-shaped channel into which a felt packing 104 is applied through which the wire W travels for application to the spool, the friction of the felt packing serving to steady the wire on its way to the 'spool I Describing now the operation, when the machine is to be started, adjustment is made by suit.-

able means well known in the art for current flow through the coil 20 of the electromagnet slip clutch for the desired driving torque for the spool shaft. The switch 99 for the solenoid cir- I cult is closed and then the motor M is connected with the supply circuit. Referring particularly to Figure 1, the wire guiding and switching assembly is at the end of its movement to the left,

the wire guide arm having just applied the last turn of the wire to the spool and the engagement of the switch arm 65 with the spool flange having caused engagement of the actuating pin 14 of the switch 10 with the abutment screw 16 for closure of the switch 10 and consequently closure of the circuit through the coil of the solenoid S for shift of the solenoid core structure to the left and gear 8| and upward swing of the guide frame to' move the end of the guide arm the distance of substantially two wire diameters above the wire on the spool. The wire guide structure is now shiited by the traverse shaft toward the right until the last turn of the wire is applied to the spool outer flange and for movement of the switches to the right and opening of the switch and closure of the switch 69 and. closure of the circuit through the coil of the solenoid S for shift to the right of the solenoid core structure and swing of the clutch lever for operation of the clutch collar for reverse drive of the screw shaft. During shift to the right of the solenoid core, the pawl lever 86 is swung to the right for gliding of the pawl 81 over the ratchet wheel 85 for setting of the pawl for turning of the ratchet wheel as the wire guiding structure returns to the left side of the spool. When the switch arm 65 encounters the inner flange of the spool, the switches will be shifted for opening of the switch 89 and closure of the switch 10 and closureof the coil for the solenoid S and then, as the solenoid cores are shifted to the left, the abutment nut 90 will encounter the pawl lever and the ratchet wheel 85 will be turned by the pawl for the next upward adjustment of the guide arm structure.

The cycle of operation continues until the spool is filled, drive reversal taking place only when the guide arm has fully applied the last layer against the corresponding spool flange, and the wire guide arm being adjusted upwardly for winding of the next two layers before the guide structure starts its movement for the winding of these layers. By means of the adjustable abutment screws and 16. the operation of the switches can be accurately determined for reversal of travel in accord with the feed of the wire to the spool. By adjustment of the abutment nut 90 the lift of the wire guiding arm after winding two layers will be in accord with the size of the wire being wound.

When the spool has been completely wound, the set screw 9| is released so that the guide mechanism may be swung up out of the way for removal of the filled spool and the application of an empty spool. The guide mechanism is then swung down, and by its engagement with the abutment screw 93 the end of the switch arm will be at the proper distance from the spool barrel, and then when the set screw 9| is reset to con nect the frame 11 with the worm gear BI, the machine is ready for its winding operation, and during the winding operation, the end of the switch lever will be kept its adjusted distance above the wire. This adjusted distance is as small as possible in order that the end of the wire guide arm may be kept as close as possible to the wire on the spool for a minimum length of wire between the end of the guide arm and the spool during winding of the spool.

The torque of the slip driving coupling C is such that it will tend at all times to rotate the spool to keep taut the wire between the spool and the end of the guide arm but without undue strain on the wire. By keeping the wire taut the wire will be applied evenly and uniformly to the spool and any tendency toward climbing or crossing of the wire will be eliminated and the final wire layer on the spool will be uniform and the turns will be in a straight line from flange to flange of the spool.

The machine will eiflciently wind wire on spools whether the spool flanges are at an angle with or at right angles to the spool barrel. When a straight flange spool is to be wound the set screw Si is withdrawn to release the guide structure supporting frame 11 from the ratchet mechanism driven worm gear BI and the stop screw 93 is set down against the frame l'l so that the end of the wire guide arm will be above and just clear of the spool flanges and the end of the switch arm will be between the flanges a short distance inwardly of the edges thereof for cooperation with the flanges for operation of the switches for control of the solenoid circuits and reversal of the traverse shaft.

I thus produce a comparatively simple but efflcient winding machine in which the adjustment for spool drive reversal and for wire application and distribution are accurately and automatically accomplished at the proper times. By virtue of the magnetic slip drive coupling the wire is at all times kept properly tense without straining of the wire and any slack is immediately taken up.

I have shown practical and efficient embodiment of the various features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. In a spooling machine of the class described, a spool support, drive means for rotating the spool, a guide structure for guiding wire to the spool, reversing means for said guide structure, adjusting means for said guide structure for setting of the end thereof a predetermined distance from the barrel of the spool to be wound, and electrical means operable at the end of two succeeding wire layers on the spool for automatically setting said guide structure for setting of its end away from the wire on the spool a distance equal to the combineddepth of the two layers, and switch means movable with said guide structure and cooperable with the flanges of the spool for controlling said electrical means.

2. A wire spooling machine comprising means for rotating'a spool to be wound, a guide structure for guiding wire to the spool, drive means including reversing means for effecting reciprocation of said guide structure, a. switch lever fulcrumed on said guide structure for co-operation at its outer end with the flanges of the spool, unitary switch structures mounted on said switch lever and each provided with an actuating element, abutments on said guide structure for said actuating elements, engagement of the end of said switch lever with the spool flanges causing bodily movement of said switch structures for alternate engagement of their actuating elements with the respective abutments for opening of one switch and closure of the other, electromagnetic means for controlling the operation of said reversing structure, electrical circuits between said switch units and said electromagnetic means whereby the direction of travel of said guide structure is reversed when said switch arm engages one of the spool flanges, and adjusting means operable by said electromagnetic means coincidentally with operation thereby of said reversing means for effecting movement of said guide structure a predetermined distance away from the wire on the spool.

3. In a spooling machine of the class described, a spool support, drive means for the spool, traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, reversing means for the traverse means, adjusting means for adjusting the distance of the guide end of the traverse means from the wire wound on a spool, and an electromagnetic device for including reversing means for effecting reciprospool support, drive means for the spool, traverse means for guiding the wire to the spool, reversing means for the'traverse means, electrical means controlled by the distancev between the spool flanges for each layer being wound for causing operation 01 said reversing means, and adjusting means mechanically operated by said electrical means only at the end of each two consecutive layers wound on the spool for moving said traverse means a predetermined distance away from the wire on the spool.

5. A wire spooling machine comprising means forrotating a spool to be wound, a guide structure for guiding wire to the spool, drive means including reversing means for eflecting reciprocation of said guide structure, an electromagnetic device for operating said reversing means, an

electrical circuit for said electromagnetic device, switch means for said circuit movable with said guide structure for cooperation with the spool flanges to control said circuit for operation of said reversing means by said electromagnetic device at the end 01' each layer wound on thespool, and adjusting means directly operable by said electromagnetic device for eflecting movement of said guide structure a predetermined distanceaway from the wire on the spool.

6. A wire spooling machine comprising means for rotating a spool to be wound, a guide structure for guiding wire to the spool, driving means cation of said guide structure, an electromagnetic device comprising windings and an armature structure connected with said reversing means, switch means movable with said guide structure and circuits for-said windings controlled by said switch means, said switch means being cooperable with the spool flanges at the ends of winding layers on the spool for controlling the circuits 'for said windings for operation of the reversing means by the armature structure, and adjusting means directly operable by said armature structure for moving said guide structure at the end of a winding layer a predetermined distance away from the layer.'

'7. A wire spooling machine comprising means for rotating a spool to be wound, a guide structure for guiding wire to the spool, driving means including reversing means for effecting reciprocation of said guide structure, an electromagnetic device comprising windings and an armature structure connected with said reversing means, switch means movable with said guide structure and circuits for said windings controlled by said switch means, said switch means being cooperable with the spool flanges at the ends of winding layers on the spool for controlling the circuits for said windings for operation of the reversing means for the armature structure, a mechanical adjusting train comprising a. rotary member,

means for detachably connecting said guide structure tosaid rotary member, and means connecting said armature structure with said adjusting train for efleoting rotation of said rotary member only at the end 0! two winding layers on said spool a distance equal to the combined depth of two. layers.

EBER J. HUBBARD. 

